Almost 180,000 call-outs for driver assistance in 2016 were the result of tyre issues

According to IAM RoadSmart, a significant number of these call-outs could be avoided if drivers were better educated with basic car maintenance skills, like how to change a tyre.

“Many drivers told us they often don’t know much about how their car works and how to look after it,” Neil Greig, policy and research director at IAM RoadSmart, told Auto Express.

“Changing a tyre is a life skill that can save valuable time sitting on the roadside waiting for help.”

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While he doesn’t necessarily believe it should be part of driver testing, Greig claimed basic skills like learning to change a tyre should be included in additional driving tuition courses.

He also suggested the government introduce measures to help motorists look after their tyres.

“It’s difficult today for drivers to properly look after their tyres,” Greig said.

“Garages and forecourts should offer more free air points so drivers can keep their tyres correctly inflated.”

HOW TO: SIMPLE STEPS FOR CHANGING A TYRE

Find a safe location – try to steer clear of narrow shoulders and oncoming traffic. An empty carpark is ideal.

Turn hazard lights on, apply parking brake and place a wheel wedge (bricks or stones also work) behind the tyres to stop car from rolling.

Take off hubcap or wheel cover to expose lug nuts.

Loosen or ‘crack’ the lug nuts with your wheel spanner, turning them counterclockwise until you break the resistance – don’t be afraid to use force, but only turn the nuts approximately halfway off.

Line up your jack with the metal section of the car’s frame next to the tyre – directly below each door.

If you have a spare tyre, place it underneath your car as a safety net, then turn your jack to raise the car approxiamtely six inches off the ground – never put any part of your body under the car.

Unscrew the lug nuts and remove the tyre from the lug bolts.

Place the new tyre on the lug bolts and tighten the nuts by hand.

Lower the vehicle so that the wheel touches the ground, but does not have the full weight of the car. Tighten the nuts as much as possible.

Completely lower the jack and tighten the nuts once again using your full body weight. Return the hubcap or wheel cover.

Ensure you check the air pressure of the new tyre before driving on it.

In addition to a lack of understanding, the high rate of tyre-related call-outs also proved a direct result of the UK’s deteriorating roads and the absence of a spare tyre as standard in a number of new vehicles.

A study of more than 25,000 motorists showed potholes to be an increasing issue on Britain’s roads, with 39 per cent of drivers suffering tyre damage as a result of uneven road surfaces.

This issue was compounded when the motorist suffered a flat tyre and had no spare – an incident which was encountered almost 180,000 times by both the AA and RAC in 2016.